Tattoo-associated toxic shock syndrome: a case report.

BACKGROUND

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare but life-threatening complication occasionally reported after tattooing.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 29-year-old Japanese man was admitted to Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan, in early spring 2025, one week after receiving a tattoo on his right shoulder and upper arm in Osaka. He presented with fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, hypotension, and multi-organ failure. Despite a failure to isolate a causative pathogen, he met clinical criteria for TSS. Supportive care and broad-spectrum antibiotics led to full recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

TSS can occur after tattooing, even in individuals without apparent immunodeficiency. Pathogenic organisms may be unidentifiable; however, clinical diagnosis should not be delayed, and early therapeutic interventions are essential to improve outcomes.